Garden spouts win over MCC men

Monday, November 19, 2018

Brent Cobb

McCook Community College’s Mardrez McBride battles for rebound position in Saturday’s loss to Garden City, Kan., Community College at the Graff Events Center. The Indians are now 3-4 this season.

Brent Cobb/MCC

McCOOK, Neb. — The second game of the Region IX vs. Region V shootout produced another frustrating night for the McCook Community College Indians, losing 75-61 to Garden City Community College Saturday.

For the second night in a row, the Indians were unable to make adjustments when the opponent went to a zone defense and for the second night in a row, went into an offensive lull.

“Same thing as last night when we struggled against the zone and they zoned us 98 percent of the time tonight,” MCC Coach Brandon Lenhart.

The Broncbusters never trailed and led 37-30 at the half. The Indians made a couple of runs to close the gap but were never able to establish any offensive momentum.

After making nine of 25 shots in the first half (36 percent) the Indians cooled off against the zone and made eight of 28 second-half shots from the field (28.6 percent) and finished the game at 32.1 percent.

“We have the guys to make the plays but they’re not following the schemes and they are not doing what we are asking them to do,” Lenhart said. “When you lack the guys making those plays you get exposed like we have and we’re a pretty fragile team right now.”

Sophomore Peanut Cunningham (Louisville, Kent.) led MCC with 14 points and eight rebounds. A pair of freshman scored 12 points: Tyrek Battle-Holley (Jersey City, N.J.) and Mardrez McBride (Augusta, Ga.).

MCC was 21 of 26 from the line (80.0 percent) while Garden City was 15 of 18 (83.3 percent). Coming into the game Garden City wasn’t known for its 3-point shooting, but drained eight of 17 (47.1 percent) against the Indians – a troubling defensive trend. MCC made six of 24 3-pointers (25 percent).

Garden City, comes off its first loss of the season Friday in North Platte (73-68) and improves to 5-1.

The Indians, now 3-4, have just one day of preparation before traveling to Columbus Tuesday (7:30 p.m.) to play Central Community College in the Indians’ first game in the Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference.